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Thursday, January 28, 2016

I finally understand why Charlotte married Mr.Collins out of the blue.

I have seen the numerous movies based on Pride and Prejudice novel, and was looking forward to reading the zombie adaptation. Would it linger toward the horror genre or humor -- I did not know what to expect. But after reading it, I must say it definitely belongs to the latter.

Grahame-Smith changed lots of the dialogue to incorporate the zombie theme as the Bennett girls are well trained in combat. Yes, their mother is still obsessed with marriage (regardless of the plague) and all the characters are there. Although, I must say that Grahame-Smith karma the heck out of all of them, whether by giving them even more egotistical personalities or crippling them.

Sunday, January 17, 2016

Ramona and Sam have been bandmates for a long time. And to both of their dismay, the relationship has crossed the friendzone. Then one day Tom appears in the picture and gets added as a new member. But will Ramona's crush on Tom bring out everything that has been left unsaid between her and Sam?

Despite the author's efforts to add subplots about bullying, cancer, and teen/parents issues -- the main focus remained on the romance. Lack of sex motivation is not commonly seeing in YA books and I'm glad that it gets some spotlight. I mean how many of us have dated someone that just couldn't get it up or didn't want more than to hold hands? Not everyone has a high drive. The problem is the author dragged it. Giving us the impression that a huge revelation will explain his condition (gay, asexual, molested, alien...) And if that wasn't bad enough, she then ended the climax with a dried up solution to try to make every character happy. Life doesn't work that way.

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Although one night stands are no longer frowned upon as before -- 15 of them with guys from the same school -- will not go unnoticed

Following a bad breakup, Mercedes decides to take control of her body. She quickly becomes the school "devirginizer", sleeping with other girls boyfriends to teach them how to respect girls needs in bed. As one guy after another leaves her bedroom, Mercedes goes sloppy. No longer checking if the virgins have girlfriends or not -- or if they are virgins at all. How long can she keep doing this? Doesn't she realize that this is the opposite of self-control?

The author made sure to compliment Mercedes character with selfish parents. The mother was present throughout the novel, which made it even more cruel that she never tried to stop her child from casual sex. The book kind of dragged for a while, as Mercedes accumulated partners, but once everything unraveled Flynn provided an amazing conclusion, making sure to fit as many lessons as possible for young girls everywhere.

Monday, January 11, 2016

Certainly not Mac who has been a huge fan of Perfect Storm (PS) before they were a hit. Mac knows everything about them -- from eating habits to favorite colors -- and dreams of going to her Spring Fling dance with the lead singer, Zander. But when a sudden turn of events causes Mac's mom to get hired as PS' tour manager, Mac will not only get to daydream about the band, she will spend the next two months with them 24/7. Will this personal encounter change her image of them? What if Zander is not so dreamy as she pictured in her head?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Although, I did find it a little lengthy for Middle-Graders at first, I soon began to see various drawings, blank pages to separate chapters, and graphic novel entries (Mac's alter ego), encouraging me to quickly changed my mind. Mac was heartfelt and quirky/clumsy making it easy to get attached to her character. She also acted like a mature twelve-year-old. Aside from the romance, the author added Lola, a rich spoiled fifteen-year-old ready to challenge Mac's favorite fan status.

Friday, January 8, 2016

Once you answer be sure to leave me your link so I can follow you back

Q: What books are you most excited for in 2016?

Glass Sword!!

Granted, I haven't put up my review of Red Queen yet ( I have been on a vacation lazy slump) I must admit to love the setting, the characters, and the writing style of the series. I can't wait to see what Victoria Aveyard comes up with next.

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Resolute in keeping my challenge, here is my first January movie/book post.

Mockingjay Part II

Why did it take me so long to review this film? Because I had to reread the book. It had been so long since it was published (2010, keep in mind that there is no Mockingjay part 2 novel) that I felt the need to refresh and understand why a few scenes were presented the way they were.

All in all, I found the plot stuck mostly to it's original story enough to give book fans their bucks worth. I was however surprised by the movie fanatics who didn't seem to grasp why the rebellion was not in center focus. They wanted more political details, which is impossible due to the fact that the story is told by the point-of-view of Katniss alone. And at that moment all she could think about was Snow. A great eye-opener on how revenge can blind us.

Veronika Decides to Die

Ugh where do I start?

Paulo Coehlo is an amazing author, so amazing he can actually afford to make a cameo in his own book. While the novel deals with all the downside of depression (therapists says sadness and anger are emotions, while depression is a condition that we force upon ourselves) and reveals lots of great quotes to turn our frowns upside down, the film misleads its message. Aside from the strange sexual scene, the movie just seemed dull.

**If you've reviewed this film or any other movie adaptation this month, please make sure to leave your link below. I'm always searching for movies to watch or skip.